Body of missing Australian Paul McKay found in mountains of upstate New York; former soldier suffered PTSD

THE body of missing Australian soldier Paul McKay has been found in the mountains in upstate New York.

The body of the Canberra man, who was 31, was found near the summit of Scarface Mountain in Ray Brook, New York, a popular hiking site with an elevation of 932 metres.

The discovery ends a two-week search for the Afghanistan war vet, who was suffering post-traumatic stress and was on leave from the Australian Army. An autopsy will be performed on the body.

"This is not the outcome we had hoped for," Saranac Lake police chief Bruce Nason said.

"The family has been informed of this news and we express our deepest sympathy for their loss."

The cause of death was yet to be determined and he was unaware if a note was found with Capt McKay's body, Mr Nason said.

A New York forest ranger who climbed the mountain found the body on Wednesday, in a section of the mountain hidden from view of search helicopters.

Authorities were also monitoring airports in New Jersey and Los Angeles in the hope that he would arrive for his flight back to Australia.

McKay sent an email to his father on December 30, saying that he was leaving all of his possessions to him.

His family had not known McKay was travelling to the US, and his father reported him missing on January 3.

Search teams led by New York Forest Rangers and volunteers had focused their search near Scarface Mountain in the Adirondack Mountains after a person fitting McKay's description was seen walking on train tracks on December 31.

The region was hit by extremely cold weather, caused by the polar vortex, which resulted in snow storms and temperatures falling below -30C.

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